Rummenigge: Card was not deliberate

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger did not deliberately pick up a yellow card in Wednesday night's 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille, according to Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

PUBLISHED: 09:04, Thu, Mar 29, 2012

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Bastian Schweinsteiger [PA]

Bayern Munich midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger did not deliberately pick up a yellow card in Wednesday night's 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille, according to Bayern's chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

The Germany international was given a needless yellow card which means he will miss the return leg in Munich next week, but will then be available for the semi-finals, should Bayern progress.

"We don't go getting yellow cards out of cleverness," said Rummenigge. "For us, it is important that he's back and we know that we need Bastian for the final run-in."

He added: "He did not do it on purpose - we are not that clever."

Schweinsteiger, who was not expected to play a part at all due to injury, denied any intention in being booked so as to wipe the slate clean for the semi-finals.

"You can't really think that because we are not even certain we will qualify for the semi-finals," he told Sky television.

"I have missed plenty of games due to injury and I would like to have played another game, but now I am banned. It was my first foul of the game, it was just a bit unfortunate."

The 2-0 win puts Bayern in the driving seat in the tie and increases the prospect of a clash with Real Madrid, who won 3-0 in Nicosia on Tuesday, in the last four.

Yet nobody in the Bayern camp is looking beyond next Tuesday.

"We are in a good situation, but we must keep our concentration," said Franck Ribery. "We have got to be serious and play with discipline."